CASTLETON, Vt. -- After a short pause, the Castleton University men's soccer team dropped a 4-1 non-conference decision to New England College Saturday evening at Dave Wolk Stadium.
 
For the second straight contest, the Spartans (0-2-0) fell behind within the first minute of the game. As the Pilgrims (1-0-0) held possession for most of the first half, Santiago Duarte scored from close range, giving the Pilgrims a 1-0 advantage with just 59 seconds off the game clock. Joao Morais-Godoi sent in a looping cross into a crowd of defenders from just outside the 18-yard box, and Duarte easily slotted the ball past goaltender Alex Fernald after the Spartans failed to clear.
 
The Pilgrims doubled the lead in the next two minutes of play as Panagiotis Galatas scored his first goal of the season in the fourth minute. While on the counterattack, Galatas collected the ball and sent a bouncing shot from 28 yards out past a diving Fernald to give the Pilgrims a 2-0 lead.
 
The Pilgrims pulled away late in the first half as a third goal was recorded. As the Pilgrims continued to apply pressure on the Spartan defense with precise passing, Wiskens Flavil scored on an open net after the Spartans turned the ball over deep in their territory.
 
Both defensives held their own in the second half as neither team found any momentum offensively. The Pilgrims finally broke through in the second half and gained a 4-0 advantage in the 80th minute. Morais-Godoi was once again involved in the play as he sent a looping pass in front of the Spartan goal, and Eli Leonard scored on a header past goaltender Jonathan Maul. 
 
The Spartans added their first goal of the game shortly after as Kevan Flanagan scored his first-career goal in the 82nd minute of play. While possessing the ball in Pilgrim territory, Jacob Henderson sent a pass through the Pilgrim defense and Flanagan sent a sweeping shot past goaltender Robbie Ferguson to cut the deficit to 4-1.
 
Fernald earned the loss for the Spartans as he allowed two goals and one save in 32 minutes of action. Andres Soto-Burgos relieved Fernald and allowed one goal while tallying a team-high two saves. Ferguson earned the win in the goal of the Pilgrims as he played 90 minutes and recorded two saves.
 
Castleton returns to action Sunday, April 18, as it travels to Northfield, Vt. to take on Norwich at 1 p.m.